Agristo has placed the total investment in its first US potato processing facility at more than $1 billion, while confirming that the Grand Forks plant is expected to begin processing potatoes from the 2029 harvest.

The Belgian frozen potato products manufacturer disclosed the updated scale of the North Dakota project following a ceremonial groundbreaking held on July 7. Physical work on the site began in September 2025, meaning the event marked a construction milestone rather than the initial start of the development.

At full capacity, Agristo expects the facility to process approximately 1.1 billion lb of potatoes annually and manufacture around 550 million lb of finished potato products.

The plant will source primarily from the Red River Valley across North Dakota and Minnesota. Agristo estimates that its annual requirements will correspond to approximately 20,000 acres of potato production and involve more than 50 growers once the facility reaches full operation.

The company previously expected production to begin in 2028. The timetable has since been extended, with the first potatoes now scheduled to enter the plant during the autumn 2029 harvest.

“Throughout this past winter, we’ve continued to make strong progress despite harsh weather conditions,” said Ruben Devos, Agristo Grand Forks Project Director. “With the arrival of spring and early summer, we were able to smoothly resume construction and accelerate all related activities.”

Devos said the foundations were ready for the remaining construction stages, following the installation of pillars and pilings at the site.

The project is expected to create more than 300 permanent jobs when fully operational. Agristo has already begun assembling its US management and agricultural teams, including appointments covering plant operations, transport, sales, human resources and agronomy.

The company has identified Walmart as an important commercial partner in the development, saying commitments made through the retailer’s US manufacturing initiative helped support the investment decision.

“Walmart and Agristo share a commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability, and customer value,” said Jaclyn Lomax, Vice President of Supplier Excellence at Walmart US. “This project will create jobs, expand opportunities for local farmers, and bring significant investment to the region.”

Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Keith Lund described the project as Agristo’s first North American production facility. The company has supplied customers in the US market for several years, particularly in private-label frozen potato products.

Agristo initially presented the development as an investment of at least $450 million. Local authorities subsequently said the project cost had increased because of construction and equipment expenses, without providing a final revised figure. The company’s latest announcement places the total investment above $1 billion.

The Grand Forks development forms part of a wider expansion programme that also includes new and expanded potato processing capacity in France and India.